The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has criticised a law passed by Thailand’s ruling military junta, labelling it a move “even more draconian” than martial law.
Whilst Thailand’s junta lifted martial law this month, article 44 of the interim charter allows Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, “to issue any legislative, executive or judicial order”.
“Normally, I would welcome the lifting of martial law – and indeed strongly advocated for it to be lifted in Thailand,” said Mr Zeid. “But I am alarmed at the decision to replace martial law with something even more draconian, which bestows unlimited power on the current Prime Minister without any judicial oversight at all.”
“This clearly leaves the door wide open to serious violations of fundamental human rights,” he continued, adding that “in effect, this means the sweeping away of all checks and balances on the power of the Government, rendering the lifting of martial law meaningless.”
Brad Adams, director of Human Rights Watch Asia, also criticised the decision, stating that it signalled Thailand’s “deepening descent into dictatorship”.
See our earlier post: Thailand lifts martial law, brings in arbitrary detention law (01 April 2015)